Mooney primed for blockbuster summer

Aussie opener withdrew from English tournament in bid to be fit for Ashes

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Australia opener Beth Mooney says her decision to withdraw from England's Women's Super League has her primed for a summer that is shaping up as the biggest yet for the country's top cricketers.

Mooney had signed on for a second season with the Yorkshire Diamonds, but having carried a shoulder injury through the Women's World Cup in the United Kingdom that preceded the domestic 20-over tournament, it was decided the Queenslander should return to Australia to ensure her fitness for this month's Commonwealth Bank Women's Ashes.

Mooney makes maiden ODI ton

"It was a bit of a catch-22 for me," Mooney told cricket.com.au.

"I was really excited to link up with my Yorkshire teammates and have a bit of a change in dynamic at the end of the World Cup to a different format and different people, but in terms of where I was at with my shoulder injury, I needed to get that assessed and see what the way forward was for me.

"Looking back, it was the right decision. Hopefully it lets me play every game I can this summer … and do my job properly.

"That's something I didn't want to do, I didn't want to go in at 80 per cent fitness and carry an injury, so hopefully I've avoided that."

Mooney has scored 458 runs at 41.64 in 11 ODIs in 2017, including her maiden international century against New Zealand in Auckland earlier this year.

Having cemented her spot as ODI opener, the 23-year-old is aiming to assert herself at the top of the order across all three formats when the Ashes, which will see Australia meet England in three ODIs, one day-night Test and three T20Is, begin in Brisbane on October 22.

"I've tended to make good starts and then get out. I needed to practice getting a good start and staying in, so it's nice to have that under my belt going into the season."

The Queenslander also hopes strong early season form will be enough to secure a Test debut when the first ever day-night Ashes Test gets underway at North Sydney Oval on November 9.

"That would be an absolute dream come true to be picked in the XI for that game.

"We don't play it a whole lot but I think my batting suits the longer format and I'll relish any opportunity in the Baggy Green."

Mooney was first handed opening responsibilities in the home T20I series against New Zealand this year, but fell early in all three matches with scores of 1, 4 and 1.

She quickly turned that around with scores of 100, 57 and 69 in the trans-Tasman ODI series that followed, and Mooney is confident she can find success in the 20-over format if given another opportunity against England.

"Obviously, it was a bit disappointing at the start of the year in that series but it was quite easy to turn it around in the one-dayers, so hopefully I'm given another opportunity at the top of the top order and I take it this time."